Assessment of the effects of variation in external nutrient loads on the Curonian lagoon ecosystem

Abstract

Curonian lagoon, the largest coastal lagoon in Europe is characterized by the strong seasonal and interannual variation in nutrient loads and water quality parameters is characterized by the dominance of the Nemunas rivers discharges. Coupled hydrodynamic and NPZD model was applied to assess the impacts of the foreseen reduction of nutrient loads prescribed in the State Plan to Improve the Quality in the Curonian lagoon, which was approved in 2006. The simulation of 1999-2000 was used as the background scenario. The NPZD model applied takes into the account the recently evaluated atmospheric nitrogen fixation by the cyanobacteria during the summer ldquobloomsrdquo and combined effects of temperature and wind climate.